Economic evaluation of the level of knowledge services in selected OECD countries

Abstract

The theme of this article is generally defined by the issue and characteristics of Knowledge Services - primary focusing on the definition of Knowledge Services and consequently, on the economic evaluation of their level in selected OECD countries, as well as the identification of areas for the development of Knowledge Services in the Czech Republic. Services generally occupy more and more space in human activities. Basically, they have accompanied mankind since time immemorial. When people started exchanging products among themselves and a middleman - the merchant - appeared, we can speak of providing intermediation services. In human communities, individuals have always existed who started to take care of others at the time of disease or during injuries, but they also paid attention to various ceremonials that developed in their community. In later years, people extended their sphere of activity and seaside countries especially, conducted exploratory journeys and on the basis of these, performed transport services between countries and continents. They started to spread their experience and knowledge and developed them progressively into Intentional Education. Nowadays, a huge area has opened up to services involving various activities from the earlier times as well as new opportunities for services that arise every day. The above facts are also reflected in the economic indicators of developed countries, where up to a quarter of employees out of the total in employment are working in the Knowledge Sector. Therefore, there is a shift in job opportunities from primary and secondary activities to tertiary - or more likely, quaternary services. The whole article consists of several consequential parts. Next to the usual sections of the scientific work, the introductory part is focused on a thorough survey of the current state of the issue and the level of knowledge in the field of Knowledge Services. In the following section, comparative analyses of Knowledge Services in selected OECD countries are carried out. In conclusion, there are different findings generalized and formulated into the conclusions and the application of the knowledge contained in the publication is defined.